Fa freddo in inverno, indosso un maglione pesante.

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Breakdown of Fa freddo in inverno, indosso un maglione pesante.

• in: in
• indossare: to wear
• fare freddo: to be cold
• l'inverno: the winter
• il maglione: the sweater
• pesante: heavy

Questions & Answers about Fa freddo in inverno, indosso un maglione pesante.

Why is the weather expression "fa freddo" used instead of saying "it is cold" with the verb "essere"?

In Italian, weather conditions are often expressed using the verb fare. So instead of saying "è freddo" (it is cold), Italians say fa freddo—literally, "it makes cold." It’s a fixed, idiomatic way to describe the weather, similar to fa caldo (it’s hot).

What does the clause "indosso un maglione pesante" mean, and why isn’t the subject explicitly stated?

This clause means "I wear a heavy sweater." The verb indosso is the first person singular form of indossare (to wear). Italian is a pro-drop language, so the subject I is understood from the verb conjugation and doesn't need to be added.

How is the adjective pesante used in the sentence, and does it properly agree with the noun maglione?

The adjective pesante means "heavy." In Italian, adjectives typically come after the noun they modify. Here, maglione (sweater) is masculine singular, and pesante correctly matches it—since many adjectives in Italian remain the same in the masculine singular form.

What does the phrase in inverno mean, and why is there no article before inverno?

The phrase in inverno translates to "in winter." When referring to seasons in general, Italian usually does not use an article. So instead of saying nel inverno (in the winter), you simply say in inverno to describe a general seasonal condition.

Are the two parts of the sentence independent clauses, and how are they connected?

Yes, they are independent statements. The first clause, fa freddo in inverno, is an impersonal observation about the weather. The second clause, indosso un maglione pesante, tells us what the speaker does in response. The comma functions to link these related observations in a single sentence.

Could the sentence be rearranged to change its emphasis, and if so, how might that look?

Absolutely. For example, if you want to emphasize the reason for wearing the sweater, you could rearrange it to: "Indosso un maglione pesante perché fa freddo in inverno" (I wear a heavy sweater because it’s cold in winter). This version makes the causal relationship explicit.

What is the general rule for omitting subject pronouns in Italian, as seen with the verb indosso?

Italian is known as a pro-drop language, meaning that subject pronouns are often omitted because the conjugated verb clearly indicates the subject. In the clause indosso un maglione pesante, the form indosso already tells us that the subject is I, making it unnecessary to include the pronoun explicitly.